No new nightspots for 3 mayoralties

JAKARTA (JP): The city administration will not issue operational permits for new establishments in South, Central and East Jakarta, an official said.

Deputy Governor for Social Welfare R.S. Museno said yesterday that the three mayoralties are not appropriate for establishments, because they are plotted as residential areas.

The existing number of night spots in the three mayoralties is enough, he said.

"According to a regulation, an establishment cannot be opened in a residential area. The city administration plans to uphold the regulation," Museno said.

He explained that the city administration will grant permits to those intending to open entertainment centers in North and West Jakarta.

There are presently a total of 3,233 establishments in the city, consisting of various entertainment centers such as bars and pubs, movie theaters, massage parlors and discotheques.

According to data provided by the city public order office, there are a total of 899 establishments in Central Jakarta, 787 in South Jakarta and 268 in East Jakarta. In North Jakarta, there are 443 establishments, with 836 in West Jakarta.

On Thursday, the head of the city's public order office, Kusaeni Budiantoro, said that his office will not grant permits to new discotheques in the city, because the current number -- 133 -- is adequate for Jakartans.

The decision is expected to be the final effort by the city administration to clean the city's discotheques, as many of them have been used for drug trafficking.

Seventeen discotheques have been warned over Ecstasy deals.

Data from the public order office shows that from April to June this year, 35 discotheques were temporary closed down by the office for violating the regulations.

During a police raid at the Poster cafe conducted two days ago, hundreds of Ecstasy pills were found scattered on the floor. The raid follows three other recent raids, bringing the total to four this month.

Earlier this week, Governor Surjadi Soedirdja ordered the city tourism agency to close down any discotheques caught being used for trafficking Ecstasy pills or other illegal substances.

Museno also said yesterday that the administration would prefer to have establishment owners imprisoned for such violations rather than fining them.

"The Rp 50,000 fine is too small. I think it will be more effective if they are put in prison," Museno said. (yns)